Firearm.



J. H. WESSUN.

PIRBARM.

APPLIOATION FILED Nov. 19, 1909.

978,415. Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

' J. H. WEssoN.

HRBARM.

' APPLICATION FILED NOV.19, 1909.

978,415 v Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

WITNESSES: LVVENTOR,

BY f

A TT ORNE Y.

JosEPH H. W'EssoN, or SPRINGFIELD, MAssAoi-iUsETTs.

FIREARM.

To all whom it may concern:`

Be it known that I, J osErH-H. \VESSON, a citizen of the United States of' America, and residentyof Springfield, in'the county of y Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improve- 'ments in Firearms, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The-.improvements constituting the pres- Aent invention pertain to firearms, and the same while available on firearms generally are 'especially' applicable in automatic o recoil operated pist-01s.

The particular objectz of the 'invention is to lprovide a safety device in conjunction with the. tiring mechanism for normally lock-ing and rendering the firing mechanism inoperative, thel same having associated v therewith a'catch to holdthe safety device -in itslocked posi-tion, vthe catch being susceptible of a ysemi-conscious manually'i-my pai-ted movement for a release so that in conjunction with the pulling ofv the triggerv the safety device is moved to its position of 'disengagement from the firing mechanism. yAnother object isto provide an improved means for locking the barrel,-,which is pivf oted, and may `have a. swinging. movement relatively, to the frame,-in its relation to f`the frame 'so that it is .reliably and immovably held in a manner to prevent'the slightest degree of play or looseness inthe relations of the barrel to the frame. And-another lObjectis to provide in the pistol hav ing an apertured ydepending portion constitilting a.v handle, improved means for the connection of the closing side cheeks with othe apertured handle portion.

Other objects and advantages are attained' '40 in and by the organization of the devices or mechanism as will hereinafter be 'rendered apparent.

The improvements comprised. in' the tire-V arm are hereinafterjfully described 1n con. junction with the accompanying" drawings and set forth in the 'claims In the drawings zt-'Figure 1 1s aside ele`4 vation," with vsome parts in section, of so fmuch ofanautomatic pistol'a's is necessary' oi,des1i'able for the illustration in conjuncf tion therewith vof the present improvements,`

lthe fbarrel being shown as inl its'normal locked position relatively to the frame andy Athe safetyA device as in its normal position `for rendering the tiring mechanisminoperative. Fig. 2 is an elevation similar to Specification of Letters Patent. Application le'drNove-mber 19, 1909. Serial No. 528,892.

Patented Dec.

Figl, but showing changed relations of the parts said parts being in the relations or positions they assume when the safety mech'- anism is released to permit operation' of the firing mechanism. Fig. 3 `is a horizontal section on line 3%.?, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 l-is a horizontal section, on a largerI scale, on line the safety device includingl the catch therefor. y y

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the views.

In the drawings, A represents the frame comprising as a downwardly extending'por'- tion thereof the handle A2, the barrel B; by

4 1, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a rearward'extension thereof being connected to a rearwardly located and upwardly extended portion ofthe-frame by a pivot a. The 'firing mechanism'in this pistol comprises the hammer C. themainspring D and ha1iiniei-engaging plunger D2, the sear E with a spring appui'tenant thereto and the trigger F in engagement with the seai.

The hammer C is constructed at its'iear end with a notch whereby is' producedL a shoulder?) to be engaged bythe safetyl`levice which is prominently'comprised in the `present invention.

The portion of the frame above thedeev pendinghandle, in which the hammer oper.

ates, is made with opposite side walls.cl,`d,

the one el? havinga longitudinal groove or way cl3 in its inner face While the s other wall dhas a longitudinal way f in its outer face, with an opening f2 extending from` the groove oi' Way f to the space between the4 sidewalls d and d2, (seeespecially Fig. 3).

itself in Fig. 5,-'comprises aplate or thin bar g which. is. 'closely fitted and slidable substantially longitudinally of the' firearm in the aforementioned groove way f; and

this bar has a hammer-locking projection or stud L which traverses t-he yspace'between `the opposite side portions of the frame and has its extremity zf2 fitted in the aforementioned. groove or way d3; said safety device further comprises a depending extension 2'- and a vcatchpiitotally jointed to its lower end. This catchi embodiesy a thin bar or' plate-like portion`which at' its rear end has its-pivotal connection-to the aforementioned 'depending member @i by a halved l'joint or one like a. rule hinge/fay shoulder 7'2 at the rear upperportion of the catch bar hav- The v safety i device,-which is, shown .by

ing a limiting relation to a shoulder i2 at the rear lower portion ot' the member represehting the pivot; and the said catch is made with the 'ateh shoulder j" tor engagement when in its normal position, as represented in Fig. l, with a shoulder1 n on the side Ot' the handle Jframe adjoining its forward edge.; The said catch moreover, has a transversely extending finger bearing member j* located just forward of the trout edge of the handle and below thel trigger guard G. h

u represents a flat spring secured at its lower' portion in a lower portion ot' the handle-frame and having a bearing at a point below the pivot /a in a forward 'direc- Ation Vagainst the rear squared end ot' the catch in a manner to be effective to throw the catch to its vtrame engaging position and also through the medium of the catch to force the safety device, to which the catch is pivotally connected, to its position represented in Figs. 1 and 3, for engagement with the shoulder Z) of the hammer to lock 'the latter and render the tiring mechanism inl operative until it is desired that such comlition be terminated by a purposed or conscious manipulation. It will be appar `yt that the spring 0 exerting its tension upon the heel or inner end ot' the pivot partit j moves Vthe said portion outwardly and' up wardlyrto bring the catch shoulder i3 into engagement with the shoulder m on the frame of the handle, and that the movement of the catch, whereby when in the safety position shown in Fie'. l, will properly engage the shoulder m of the frame. is regulated by the end boundary of the groove wav f'.

rlhe user of the pistol, in firing` will just previously to, or practically,simultaneously with the drawing of the t'o'refinger against the trigger F, also with the middle finger exert a pressure in both a downward and a rearward. direction upon the finger bearing member or portion j'l with the result o'l disengaging the. shoulder ot' the catch t'rom the shoulder m on the trame. and, through the medium of the catch, bodily reaiwvardtv sliding the safety device so that the transverse integral projection /z thereot'is positioned so far rearwardly relatively to the hammer as to be free and clear from 'the hammer shoulder 71 so that the trigger-released hammer is also released b v the .-aiet v device whereby the firearm mawY be discharged.

It. will be understood that the safety mechanism is practicallyv contained and concealed in the channel 7' in the side wall (I with the .finger-bearing portion projecting through a cut or side recess in the forward partof the handle. with the transverse projection /z in engagement with the shoulder Z) of the hammer C, which thus disposes the which partsl in their proper relations, and leavesl the chamber or aperture runobstructed for the reception o'l the cartridgecarrying nagazine, and that the gcimrai operation ot' the tiringot tlte arm is practically he same as in other autonatic magazine iirearms, the prt-ssure upon the usual trigger releasing the scar to permit operation ol thev hammer ander the impulse ot' the mainsln'ing: but in my firearm the normal positioning of the parts, as most clearli,Y seen in Fig. l, renders it necessary that pre lsurein a lparticular direction known to the marlisman be exerted Afirst upon the catch, releasing the same from the shoulder m on the 't'rame and'moving the stud carried by the safety device out ot engagement with the shoulder i) ot' the hammer. so that upon pressure upon the trigger the firearm may be discharged in thc usual manner: and the safety device o't'erct-mes an elenicnt of danger which has been especiall \v recognized in automatic or recoil operated firearms for thc rason that it prevents the discharge oi the arm ',prematurely or accidentally, and yet, perniits such discharge only bythe employment! of combined pressures. which may be instantlyv and practically sinmltaneously exerted by contiguous fingers of the hand holding the pistol. one to free the safety device and the other to move the trigger.

lvpon rare occasions conditions may be such that the hammer may be in its forward or detonatine position. and the locking device and the safety catch in their normal engaging positions: so that there will be the requirement that Ithe firearm be cocked by hand: but in such an event one has only concurrently with the cocking to disengage the catch and through the medium thereof force. and for a part ot' a movement hold, the safety locking device to its rearward position free and clear otl the hammer.

The arrangemeitt of the locking stud or t'ansverse projection 71 as shown so that its rear extremity hasI a sliding fit in the way 7" within the rear ot the frame impartsI stabilit)Y and reinforcement to the locking device to resist distorting pressures which might be brought thereageainst by the scar released and spring pressed hammer and assists inthe perfect rectilinear guidance of-thc safety device. l

The barrel, the rearward extension ot is pivotally connected to the frame, has a. depending lug t which fits down through an opening in theV forward extension A3 of the frame. .This lug has a. small horizontal longitudinal bore s therein made ot' two diameters. the smaller at its rear and opening both to front and rearotl the lug: and in line with this bore the portion ot' the frame at the rear of the aperture down into which the lug has its occupancy, has a socket w into whichthe extremity of a bolt 'a c11- gages-.K This bolt is shouldered and has a spring `v2 for forcing .it forwardly so that when the spring is free foritsreaction the forward end of the bolt will protrude' slightly forwardly beyond: the front of the lug and l have its rear end drawn out from its en- Irement with'the socket u in the frame, as

far forwardly out from the bore in the lug.

The trigger v'guard G1 pivoted at a: is adaptedto be swung from? the Vposition ot' disengagement lwith a frontportion of the .frame at a level below the pivot m asreprcsented in Fig. 2 to the engaged portion yindicated in Fig. l for a Wellknownpurpose especially/in automatic firearms of a typev such as exemplified in the present illustrations. f v

A portion of the trigger guard is made in the form of a ,cam as represented at y, the action ofwhich whenthe trigger guard is in the usualposition as required during the use of the firearm, isv to crowd the bolt rear-- wardly so that itk will engage, closely', inthe socket in the frame and positively and reliably 'lock the barrel I'in'its horizontal nor*- mal position on the frame." So soon, how- A, ever, as the lower rearward end of the trigger guard is disengaged from its snap connection `with the frame and forwardly swung, the bolt will automatically be forwardlyfmovedto unlock .the barrel so that then the latter is free to be swung away from the frame for cleaning or other purpose.

The handle portion of the frame which is made with the aperture vc therein for the reception of -the cartridge magazine, has the portions adjacent the margins of said aperture at each side of ythe handle 'formed with undercut edges which extend. to the lower end of the handle, and the cheek plates L have parallel beveled opposite edges which engage with the undercut. edges e so that the outward displacement of the cheek plates is prevented; and the cheek plates are confined in their practicallyA dovetail lengagements 'by transversely appliedv uniting screws or studs L2.

The cheek plates L may have secured thereto properly formed grip sections of hard rubber, pearl or other material for giving the proper rounded form to the handle.

I clain'irl. In a firearm, thecombination with a tiring mechanism, comprising a trigger, of a spring actuated safety device for normally locking and rendering the firing mechanism inoperative, andhavinga manually actuated catch located adjacent the trigger and adaptf ed automatically to detachably engage a portion of the frame ofthe arm', to hold said safety device in its locked position.

2. In a firearm, the combination with a tiring mechanism comprising a/ trigger, of a4 safety device for normally locking and' renydering the firing mechanism inoperative and provided with a manually actuated catch located adjacent the trigger and adapted to -detachably engage a suitable portion of the firearm in proximity thereto to hold .the safety device in its locked position, and

.' means for automatically forcing the safety device'to its locking position an for simultaneously automatically foicing the catch' to its engagedposition. f

3. In a 'firearnn the combination with' a firing mechanism comprising ahammer and trigger, of a lsafetyr device comprising a bar longitudinally slidable in the arm, having a transverse hamm'eileiigaging projection, and'y comprising a forwardly extending member .located in proximity to the trigger, and

mea-ns for'forwardly forcing the safety de-l vice. y l l 4. In a firearm, the combination with a.

hammer, of a safety device movable to have a locking engagement with the hammer, and

to be disengaged therefrom, a spring for y moving the safety device to its locking enf gagement with the hammer, and a catch for holding the safety device in its hammer lock?v ing position and` adapted for movement whereby the safety device may be moved yto ya position of. disengagement from the hainmer. f

5. In a iirearm, the combination with a hammer, of a safety device movable tohave y a locking engagement 'with the hammer, and 105 toy bedisengaged therefrom, a spring for moving the safety device to its locking engagement with the hammei, and a catch jointed, and movable relatively, to the safety device for holding the latter in its hammer locking position and adapted for a swinging movement whereby the safety device may be moved to a hammer disenga ging position and also serving as a mediumthrough which the safety device may be manually moved 'for 115 its disengagement from the hammer. j y y 6.` In a firearnn'tlie combination with a hammer, of a safety4 device movable for va locking engagement with and a disengagement from the hammer, a catch jointech'andv 120 movable rela-tively, to `the safety device for lholding the latter in its locking position, and

adapted for a swinging movement whereby the safety device may be free for its hammer disengaging movement, and a springV 125 having a pressure against said catchiandv "serving both to throw the latter to its en# gaged position and to iii'ove the safety device to its hammer lockingposition. y

' 7.- In a rearm, the combination with a 1.30

frame and the hammer, of a safety device movable for a locking engagement with, and a disengagement. from, the hammer, a

catchfpivotaily connected to the safety de-` vice and adap'ed for swinging movements whereby to have an engagement with, and a disengagement. from, the frame, and a spring having a pressure against said catch so las to move, through the medium of the latter, the therewith pivotalljT connected safety device t0 its hammer locking position, and to also throw the catch to its frame engaging position.

8..ln a firearm, the coi'nbination with a frame, a trigger guard forwardly located relatively thereto, and a firing mechanism including a hammer, and a trigger Within the guard, of a safety device comprising a bar approximately horizontally slidable in the frame having a transverse projection for engagement with the hammer and having at its forward portion a depending member, a catch pivoially connected to the depending member and comprising 'a forwardly prox jecting portion having a shoulder for engagen'ient with the said shoulder of the f'ame, and a transversely extended finger bearing'portion located forward of the 'frame and below the trigger guard, and

means for 'forwardly forcing the safety device and for swinging the catch to its frame engaging position.

t). In a firearm, the combination with a frame having a firing mechanism mounted therein and comprising separated side por tions, one of which'has a longitudinal way in ,its inner face while the other has a longitudinal way Within-its outer face with an opening extending from the latter way to the space between the side portions of the trame, of a safety dev1ce,-compr1s1ng a 'bar .slidable in one of said ways provided with a transverse hammer locking projection which traverses said space and has its extremity located in the opposite side way, and a depending projection,a catch pivotally jointed to the lower end of the de-4 pending. member and having a swinging movement for engaging and disengaging the frame, and means for forwardly moving the safety device and for swinging the catch to its frame engaging position.

l0. In a firearm, the combination with a.

frame having a socket, and a barrel jointed to the frame having a depending lug provided with a bolt slidable therein in line with said socket, and a spring exerting a force on the bolt to disengage it from such socket, of a member pivotally jointed to the frame and having a cam, operative, on its swinging movement, to force the bolt, against its spring to an engagement in said socket. c

l1. In a firearm, the combination lwith a frame and a barrel, having a rearward extension jointed to a rear portion of the frame, having a depending lug carry-ing a bolt therein slidable to engage the frame andhaving a spring to force the bolt from its frame engaging position, of a trigger guard having one end thereof pivotally connected to one portion of the frame and adapted by its other end to be detachably engaged with another portion of the frame and having a cam coacting with said bolt for forcing lthe latter, affainst its spring, to its frame engaging position.y

Signed by me at Springfield, Mass., in

presence/of tivo subscribing witnesses. 

